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Anjuna's flea market will continue

Goa Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha has given his consent to holding the weekly market at Dando (near Anjuna beach), which he had earlier banned. Known as the flea market, it is very popular among tourists, especially those from abroad.

Sardinha had earlier banned the market following allegations of the existence of an illegal trade in narcotic drugs. The market has been revived but with safeguards to control the illicit trade.

Former chief minister Luis Proto Barbosa had also banned the market for the same reason but had to re-open it due to immense pressure from the locals.

"It is not a flea market, it is our weekly market. A legal order issued by the state government in December 1990 permits us to hold the market," says Suhasini Govekar, a lawyer-turned-sarpanch.

After being prevented by the police from holding the market on the first Wednesday of the season last week, the villagers agreed to Sardinha's suggestion to submit to him a written proposal regarding the nature of the market. They also promised to be vigilant about illicit drug trade, especially among the foreigners.

The concept of a flea market was stared by hippies in the early 80s when they used to gather in Anjuna. Many needy foreigners used to sell their possessions to the locals to support themselves. However, a majority used the opportunity to buy and sell narcotics.

Even today, the customers are predominantly tourists - more foreigners than domestic ones. Thousands of foreigners, living in hotels or small rented rooms, flock to Anjuna every Wednesday to purchase their weekly provisions.

The tiny village of Dando, population 13,000, eagerly awaits the flea market. Stalls are put up on adjoining fields, in between coconut trees, belonging to three private landowners of Dando. There are at least 2000 stalls. It is a good source of income for the villagers while the local panchayat (local body) benefits from the revenue.

"The stalls are categorised for the benefit of the customers," informed Loren D'Costa, president of the Anjuna Market Vendors' Association. There are lots marked for the Kashmiris, Tibetans, Nepalese, Lamanis, Rajasthanis etc who sell clothes and other handicrafts while Goans are placed right in the middle, selling tea, soft drinks and eatables.

"We even have stalls - around 25 to 30 - by foreigners who sell clothes or their belongings," says Vinayak Malwankar, a vociferous member of the panchayat of Anjuna. These stalls are also popular among domestic tourists as the needy foreigners sell their electronic items for a song.

"We do not encourage the narcotic trade since it disrupts our market," says Govekar. In this, she is in full agreement with the chief minister, but wonders why the police do not take action against the offenders.

"I will come down heavily on narcotic traders, unlike in the past," asserts Sardinha. Whether he succeeds or not is yet to be seen. Until then, tourists can continue to patronise their favourite flea market.

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